Shipping container



ma ma March 21, 1967 M. HEFFLER ETAL SHIPPING CONTAINER Original FiledMay 17, 1.965

INVENTOR. MlLTON HEFFLER AND WILLIAM L. CoLuNs ATTORNEY United StatesPatent Ofifice 3,369,893 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 3,309,893 SHIPPINGCONTAINER Milton Hefller, High Point, and William L. Collins,Kernersville, N.C., assignors to Phillips-Foscue Corp., High Point, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Continuation of application Ser.No. 458,834, May 17, 1965. This application Jan. 3, 1966, Ser. No.525,792 2 Claims. (Cl. 62-372) This invention rel-ates, in general, toreceptacles, and, more particularly, to an insulated shipping container.

This application is a continuation of our copending application, Ser.No. 458,834, filed May 17, 1965, now abandoned, for shipping container,which application was permitted to become abandoned in view of its beingsuperseded by this present application.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shipping containerwhich is uniquely designed for temperature-maintenance of the contentsduring transit.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a containerformed of materials designed for effective temperature-maintenance ofthe container contents but which permits of requisite ventilation toprevent development of undesired potentially explosive, or implosive,internal pressures.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide acontainer of the type stated incorporating a closure member adapted forsealing engagement within the container body, which substantiallyreduces heat transfer, and is resistant to accidental dislodgment.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shippingcontainer comprising a body having a markedly low heat-conductivityfactor; which is of minimal weight; which is inexpensive in shipment;and which is of exceeding rigidity so as to fully protect the containercontents against damage through careless handling and the like in thecourse of shipment.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide acontainer of the type stated which may be most economicallymanufactured; which is durable in usage; and which reliably allows fortemperature-maintenance of the contents in relatively substantialquantities through the use of a minimum of temperature controllingexpedients.

Other objects and details of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective, exploded view of a ship-' ping containerconstructed in accordance with, and embodying, the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of the container body.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the closure.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 4-4 ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantiallyon the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1, but illustrating the closure in operativeposition.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which illustratethe preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates ashipping container comprising a body 1 and a closure 2. Body 1 may be ofany suitable size and shape, but for purposes of illustration is shownas being of elongate character, quadrilateral in cross section, andintegrally formed from a suitable resin. At one end, as at 3, body 1 isclosed, while at its opposite, or normally upper end 4, the same isprovided with an opening 5 continuous with a chamber-forming cavity 6.Cavity 6 may be of any selected cross section but is, preferably, ofcircular cross section as shown in the drawing and extends from theopening 5 through a major portion of the length of body 1, so that body1 forms an unbroken, integral casing about said cavity 6 for protectionof the contents therein.

The material of construction of body 1 is desirably a rigid polyurethanefoam of relatively light weight, while possessing excellent insulationproperties. The said material is of marked hardness and is resistant todamage such as might normally result from the customary carelesshandling in shipping, whereby the same provides safety for the mostdelicate of contents. Body 1, as formed from the aforesaid material, hasa heat-conductivity factor (K factor) in the order of .11 to .20B.t.u./hr./sq. ft./deg. F./inch at F. and is thereby endowed with thecritical property of conducing to temperature-maintenance within cavity6 for relatively extended periods of time.

Closure 2 is, understandably, complementary in configuration to cavity 6for sealing relationship therein. For purposes of illustration closure 2is shown herein as being of cylindrical character and having a diametergreater than the diameter of cavity 6. Closure 2 is formed from aflexible polyurethane foam having a resiliency to allow ofcompressibility so that the same will serve in the manner of a sealingplug Within the upper end of cavity 6 when in operative,container-closing position. Since the diameter of closure 2 is greaterthan that of cavity 6, the said closure will necessarily be compressedwhen in operative position and will, accordingly, exert a uniform,radially directed pressure against the inner face of cavity 6, therebydeveloping a relatively tight joint so that accidental displacement ofclosure 2 with inadvertent opening of container A is inhibited. Thus,closure 2, through its resiliency and flexibility, is in physicalcontrast to the rigid, inflexible character of body 1. Said closure 2 isporous allowing of breathing or ventilation for flow therethrough ofgaseous or aeriform matter, effectively conducing to preventing thedevelopment of explosively, or implosively, potential pressures withinbody 1. Despite the porous nature of closure 2, the same has a lowheat-conductivity factor (K factor), although higher than that of body1, being in the order of .22 to .35 B.t.u./hr./ sq. ft./ deg. F./ inchat 75 F. By the unique construction of closure 2, the same integrallyserves as a safety valve so that no untoward accidents will beinadvertently caused by the use of gas-producing agents, such as Dry Iceand the like, for temperature-maintenance within body 1.

In usage, the present invention is particularly adapted for thetransmittal of materials which, to preserve their efiicacy, must bemaintained within an environment of predetermined temperature. Forexample, container A has been used with noteworthy success for theshipping of vaccines wherein a limited quantity of Dry Ice in block formis provided within the base of cavity 6 and the vaccine-containingpack-ages are disposed thereon. In experience it has been found thatwith five pounds of Dry Ice, ml. of vaccine can be maintained withincontainer A at a temperature of about 20 F. below zero for a period offour days. In various container constructions heretofore, considerablequantities of Dry Ice have been necessary to maintain temperaturecontrol with but a fraction of the volume above stated and for only avery short time. It is to be recognized that the unusual construction ofclosure 2 permits escape of carbon dioxide, as produced by Dry Ice, sothat no explosive pressures are created within cavity 6. Thus, thepresent container is most suitably adapted for more efficient handlingof materials of this character by allowing for greater quantities of thesame to be shipped inexpensively as well as permitting of maintenance ofthe desired properties for extended periods of time.

Obviously, container A is equally suitable for utilization with materialto be maintained at relatively elevated temperatures. The presentinvention may be easily handled by any shipping personnel withoutdiscomfort or injury through cont-act with containers A, despite therelatively low or high temperature within the cavity 6. In view of theforegoing, it is apparent that shipping container A represents anadvance in the art in constituting a container of li ht weight, Which isdamage-resistant, while permitting of temperature-maintenance forlengthy intervals without danger of the development of hazardousinternal pressures.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the formation,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of theshipping container may be made and substituted for these herein shownand described without departing from the nature and principle of ourinvention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A shipping container for the transmittal of vaccines packed in DryIce under predetermined temperature maintenance, comprising:

(1) an elongated body,

(a) being quadrilateral in cross section, (b) formed of a rigid,inflexible polyurethane foam, having a heat-conductivity factor(K-factor) in the range of .11 to..20, V (2) said body being integrallyprovided with a cavity for receiving vaccines packed in Dry Ice,

(a) being of circular cross section, (b) opening at one end of said bodyand being closed at its other end,

(3) a closure for said cavity (a) being of cylindrical form,

(b) having a diameter greater than that of said cavity (c) being formedof resilient, flexible, and porous polyurethane foam for sealingengagement within the open end of said cavity for forming a tight jointwith the walls thereof while permit ting the escape of gases emitted bysaid Dry Ice Within the container thereby preventing development withinthe container of potentially hazardous pressures, and

((1) having a heat conductivity factor (K factor) in the range of .22 to.35.

2. A shipping container for the transmittal of vaccines packed in DryIce under predetermined temperature maintenance, comprising:

4 (1) an elongated body,

(a) being quadrilateral in cross section, (b) formed of a rigid,inflexible polyurethane foam, (c) having a heat-conductivity factor(K-factor) in the range of .11 to .20, (2) said body being integrallyprovided with a cavity for receiving vaccines packed in Dry Ice,

(a) being of predetermined cross section, (b) opening at one end of saidbody and being closed at its other end, (3) a closure for said cavity(a) being of form complementary to the said cavity, (b) having a crosssection greater than that of said cavity (c) being formed of resilient,flexible, and porous polyurethane foam for sealing engagement within theopen end of said cavity for forming a tight joint with the Walls thereofwhile permitting the escape of gases emitted by said Dry Ice Within thecontainer thereby preventing development within the container ofpotentially hazardous pressures, and (d) having a heat conductivityfactor (K factor) in the range of .22 to .35.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,780,350 2/ 1957Simon et al. 206-46 2,962,183 11/ 1960 Rill et al 229-9 2,971,640 2/1961 Snelling 206-46 3,071,276 1/1963 Pellett et al. 21'5-56 3,105,37610/1963 Haslett 220-9 3,120,319 2/1964 Buddrus 215-13 3, 155,260 11/1964 Widener 215-13 3,236,206 2/ 1966 Willinger 229-14 X FOREIGN PATENTS683,497 3/ 1964 Canada.

9,458 4/ 1907 Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

JAMES R. GARRETT, Examiner.

1. A SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR THE TRANSMITTAL OF VACCINES PACKED IN DRYICE UNDER PREDETERMINED TEMPERATURE MAINTENANCE, COMPRISING: (1) ANELONGATED BODY, (A) BEING QUADRILATERAL IN CROSS SECTION, (B) FORMED OFA RIGID, INFLEXIBLE POLYURETHANE FOAM, (C) HAVING A HEAT-CONDUCTIVITYFACTOR (K-FACTOR) IN THE RANGE OF .11 TO .20, (2) SAID BODY BEINGINTEGRALLY PROVIDED WITH A CAVITY FOR RECEIVING VACCINES PACKED IN DRYICE, (A) BEING OF CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION, (B) OPENING AT ONE END OF SAIDBODY AND BEING CLOSED AT ITS OTHER END, (3) A CLOSURE FOR SAID CAVITY(A) BEING OF CYLINDRICAL FORM, (B) HAVING A DIAMETER GREATER THAN THATOF SAID CAVITY (C) BEING FORMED OF RESILIENT, FLEXIBLE, AND POROUSPOLYURETHANE FOAM FOR SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THE OPEN END OF SAIDCAVITY FOR FORMING A TIGHT JOINT WITH THE WALLS THEREOF WHILE PERMITTINGTHE ESCAPE OF GASES EMITTED BY SAID DRY ICE WITHIN THE CONTAINER THEREBYPREVENTING DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CONTAINER OF POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUSPRESSURES, AND (D) HAVING A HEAT CONDUCTIVITY FACTOR (K FACTOR) IN THERANGE OF .22 TO .35.